Charles



(N0 ModeL) (1.0. FULLER.

MASK. No. 327,438. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

WITNESSEE. INVENTD'R:

N. PETERS, Pmm-Lixho n mr. Wa-hinglun ac dates for admission, whichdevice will permit ture, construction, and operation of which is U ITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. FULLER, OF WVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,438, datedSeptember29, 1885.

Application filed May T 0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. FULLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,'residing at WVorcester, in the county of WVorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inHoodwinks for Societies and Lodges; and I declare the following To be adescription of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a convenient andpractical hoodwink device for the use of societies and lodges whenconferring their initiatory degrees upon candiof the eye space or spacesbeing opened and closed, as occasion may require, without removing thehoodwink from the head of the candidate; also to provide a hoodwinkhaving a soft or padded blind with means for attaching to the head, andwith eye space or spaces having an adjustable cap or shutter, and meansfor operating the same, whereby the said eyespaces may be adjusted toallow or obstruct the vision,as more fully hereinafter explained. Theseobjects I attain by mechanism, the nahereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the natureof my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of my improved hoodwink with theshutters closed. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same with the shuttersopen 5 and Fig. 4: is a vertical section at line at at.

In reference to parts, A denotes a blindingpad of soft leather, cloth,felt, or other suitable fabric, shaped to fit the forehead, properlylined and finished, and provided with. a strap, cord, or band, B, topass around the head for retaining the hoodwink in place thereon.Portions of the band B may be formed of elastic tape, as at B, or theentire band may be nonelastic, as preferred. Theband is in the presentinstance provided with a hook, b, and a series of eyelet-holes, c, areformed therein for giving the desired variations of adjustment. A buckleor other suitable fastening device could be used in lieu of the hook, ifpreferred.

4, 18 85. (No moat-1.)

Openings are formed through the pad A at the position of the eyes, whichare bordered with metal frames or tubes D, preferably of conoidal shape,and projecting to the front for a short distance, so that their frontends are at a convenient plane to receive shuttersor valves F, foropening and closing said spaces. The shutters F are, in the presentinstance, formed of sheet metal, as disks or caps fitting over the endsof the tubes, and fastened to a rod or shaft, F, that turns in bearingsd on the frame, D, so as to swing said shutters up and down as the shaftis turned. The shaft is provided with a thumb piece or knob, f, forturning it, and a spring, I, is arranged in connection with the partsfor holdingthe shutters at their positions of adjustment. Said springmay be attached to an offset portion of 7C the shaft in a manner toswing past its center of motion, so that the strain of the springwillact to hold the shutters when opened as well as when closed. Between thetwo frames D the pad is given a degree of fullness, or a triangularpiece of lighter fabric is inserted, as at a, for passing over andgiving room for the nose, and the two frames D may be rigidly connectedone with the other by a bar, on.

The hoodwink might in some cases be made with a single opening ofsufficient size to ac commodate both eyes, and to have a single shutterinstead of two, as herein shown; or, again, the shutters might be madeto swing down or sidewise instead of upward without departure from thenature of my invention. I prefer, however, the construction shown.

In the operationof my improved device the hoodwink is placed on the headof the candidate, as indicated in Fig. 1, and as the initiator servicesare conducted the attendant by opening the shutters F instantaneouslybrings to the vision of the candidate such portions and features of thework as are to be re- 95 vealed to him without the trouble and delay ofremoving and replacing the hoodwink on his head.

I am aware that in Patent No. 2,838 there is shown spectacles, therespective eyes of 100 which are fitted with perforated slides that canbe adjusted, and also with pivoted stops for closing small openingstherein; also that Patent No. 79,898 shows open-bowed spectacles inwhich the eyeglasses are attached to a hinging bar in a manner to beswung upward when desired. I do not, therefore, claim mechanism such, asembraced in said patents, as neither of said devices are suitable forthe purposes for which myinvention is intended; neither are said devicesprovided with a soft blinding-pad for covering the face around the eyessimilar to .my appliance.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A hoodwink for lodge and society work, constructed, substantially asdescribed, with a soft fabric pad adapted to fit upon and cover the facearound the eyes and having through it eye-spaces provided with themovable blinding-shutters, and means whereby said shutters can beinstantaneously opened or closed, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a hoodwink for the purpose set forth, the combination of ablinding-pad formed of soft fabric having a space or openings for theeyes surrounded by conoidal tubular frames. a solid shutter or disksclosing over the ends of said tubular frames, a shaft and thumbpiece foroperating said shutter-disks, and a spring adapted for retaining theparts with the shutters open or closed, substantially as hereinbeforeset forth.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of thesoft-fabric blindingpad A, provided with attaching-band B, theprojecting tubular eye-fra1nes D, bordering openings through said pad,and rigidly connected, as at m, the shutters F, operating-bar F, withthumb-knobf, and the spring I, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of the soft-fabric padA, having the triangularpiece a inserted therein, the band B, formedwith elastic sides 13 and provided with attaching devices, as b, theeye-frames D, shutters F, and means, substantially as described, foroperating said shutters, for the purpose set forth.

WVitness my hand this 27th day of April, A. D. 1885.

CHARLES C. FULLER.

\Vitn ess es:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, Gno. WV. TAFT.

